Funnel.



U. A. STENMAN.

FUNNEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY e, 1913.

1, 1 1 2,488, Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

I? AIR/39% 15 THE NORRIS PEYERS CO.. PHO1U LlTHOn WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

UNO A. STENMAN, OF NORFOLK, CONNECTICUT.

FUNNEL.

, To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, UNo A. STENMAN, a citizen of Finland, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Litchfield and State of Con necticut, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Funnels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to funnels and has for its primary object the provision of a new and useful means for automatically closing the outlet of a funnel when the liquid which is being poured therethrough into a bottle or other container has reached a predetermined height within the container and means which will also retain any surplus liquid which may be left in the funnel after the outlet of the same has been closed and while the funnel is being removed from the filled container.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a means of the above described type which may be removed from the interi or of the funnel when desired, permitting the use of the funnel in the ordinary manner.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention consists in such novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the funnel showing the improved means for automatically closing the outlet of the funnel in elevation; Fig. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the funnel showing the means for automatically closing the outlet of the same removed from the interior of the funnel; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the means for automatically closing the outlet of the funnel; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 4.4= of Fig. l; and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a part of the mechanism for automatically closing the outlet of the funnel.

Referring to the drawings by numeral 1 designates a funnel having a body portion 2 substantially conical-shaped, which body portion has a nozzle 3 connected to its lower end and extending downwardly therefrom. The nozzle 3 has an annular flange 4: formed Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 6, 1913.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

Serial No. 765,917.

upon its upper end as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. A second annular flange 5 is secured to the nozzle 3 of the funnel a short distance upward from the extreme lower end of the same and forms a means for limiting the insertion of the nozzle 3 into the neck of a bottle or other container 6. The flange 5 also provides a means for aiding in holding the funnel 1 in its proper position when inserted into a bottle neck or other container. A guideway 7 is formed upon one side of the nozzle 3 by a thin piece of sheet metal such as tin or the like which is secured to the nozzle 3 at the lower end of the same.

A wire 8 passes through the guide-way 7 and extends downwardly below the lower end of the spout 3 of the funnel having a float 9 which is constructed of wood, cork or other material which will float when placed upon any kind of liquid, mounted upon its lower end. Immediately after the wire 8 protrudes out of the upper end of the guide-way 7 it is bent outwardly so as to pass along the side of the body portion 2 of the funnel 1 and enters a casing 10 which is secured to the side of the body portion 1 of the funnel near the upper end thereof. The wire 8 is again bent at 11 and extending upwardly is connected to a bar 12 as at 13. The bar 12 is pivotally mounted between the two arms of a bracket 14 as at 15 and has a wire or rod 16 connected to its outer end.

The bracket is constructed of a single piece of resilient metal which is flattened and bent upon itself as at 17. The bar 12 is pivotally mounted between the two flattened sides near the point 17 at which the piece of material of which the bracket 14 is formed is bent. The two arms 18 and 19 which are formed by the bending of the piece of metal of which the bracket 14: is constructed, are bent downwardly at 20 and have their extreme lower ends bent out wardly as at 21. The outwardly-bent portions 21 of the arms 18 and 19 are seated in openings 22 which are formed in the sides of the casing 10 and the resiliency of these arms 18 and 19 securely holds the bracket 14: in its normal position or that which is clearly shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

Removably secured to the lower end of the wire 16 is a conical shaped member 25 which has a flange portion 26 formed upon its upper end. The flange portion 26 rests upon the flange l which is formed on the upper end of the nozzle 8 when the outlet for the liquid which is dumped into the tunnel 1 is closed.

A handle 27 is secured to the body portion 2 of the tunnel 1 and is formed integral with the casing 10.

When it is desired to fill the bottle or other container with any type of liquid the nozzle 3 of the funnel 1 is inserted into the container until the flange 5 rests upon the upper end of the container and the liquid is poured into the body portion 2 and through the nozzle 3 of the funnel into the container. When the liquid which is being poured into the container reaches a height so as to engage the float 9, the latter will move upwardly, owing to its floating qualities and force the rod 8 upwardly causing the same to operate the lever 12 and cansing the conical member to seatitself in the mouth of the nozzle 3, thus closing the opening between the body portion 2 and the nozzle 3 of the tunnel and retaining any surplus liquid within the body portion of the tunnel.

When it is desired to use the funnel without the means for automatically cutting ed the outlet of the same, the arms 18 and 19 of the bracket 1% are pressed together. This moves the angled ends 21 out of the openings 22 and permits the removal of the conical shaped member and the rod 15 from out of the funnel as is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The tunnel can then e used in the ordinary manner.

in practice, certain minor features of con struction, combination and arrangement of parts may necessitate alterations to which the patentee is entitled, provided such alterations are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is 1. In a funnel, the combination of a funnel body, a nozzle connected to the lower end of said funnel body, a guide-way formed upon said nozzle, a casin secured to said body portion near the upper end of the same, said casing provided with a pair out openings disposed directly opposite each other in the sides thereof, a bracket constructed of resilient material mounted upon said body portion having its lower ends inserted through said openings, means for closing the outlet of said funnel and means extending through said guide-way and said casing and connected to said bracket for controlling the closing means of the outlet of said funnel body.

2. in a funnel, the combination of a funnel body, a nozzle connected to the lower end of said funnel body, a guide-way formed upon said nozzle, a casing secured to said body portion near the upper end of the same, said casing provided with a pair of openings disposed directly opposite each other in the sides thereof, a bracket constructed of resilient material mounted upon said body portion having its lower ends detachably inserted through said openings, means mounted on said bracket for controlling the outlet of said tunnel having one part thereof disposed within said tunnel and another part disposed without said funnel and extending through said guide-way, said first named part of said controlling means being removable from the interior of said tunnel when said bracket is detached so that the funnel may be used in the ordinary manner.

3. ln a funnel, the combination of a funnel body, a nozzle secured to said funnel body, a guide-way formed upon said nozzle, a bracket mounted upon said funnel body, a bar tulcrumed to said bracket, a valve for closii'ig the outlet of said funnel, a rod having its respective ends pivotally connected to said valve and to one end of said bar, a heat, a wire, the one end of which is secured to said float, and the opposite end pivotally connected to the other end of said bar, said wire extending through said guide way and coi'ili'orminp' to the contour of said body and said nozzle.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

UND A. STENMAN. Witnesses BRUCE LANE, S. ELLEN llon'rrinor.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Tatents,

Washington, I). G. 

